About UsWelcome to DEAR Indie

Saturday, May 25, 2019

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Introduction

D.E.A.R. was originally a part of a story line found in the book Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (pages 40-41) by Beverly Cleary. The book was first published by Harper Collins children’s division and they are the ones that crated the DEAR event that has been a part of schools and libraries for years. Texas Authors, Inc., a not for profit organization was inspired by the concept and added their own Texas touch to it, thus creating DEAR Texas in 2014 and added Dear Indie in 2018.

More About Us

The DEAR Texas concept started with an annual event created in 2014 and then implemented in 2015 when Texas authors were distributed around the state in bookstores, libraries, and schools over a two-day period in April to spotlight their works to readers. The overwhelming response from this event, demonstrated that it needed to be its own separate organization, thus Texas Authors, Inc., moved it out from under its organization and set it up as a separate 501.c.3 in Texas.

Partnerships

Drop Everything And Read is an organization that is dedicated to not only encouraging more people to read, but also to support Indie Authors. We do this by providing Indie Authors books to Title 1 Schools & Libraries across the country.

In order for us to grow and offer a variety of services, we are looking for people in each state that would like to create a chapter of DEAR Indie so that our goals can be reached.

By working under our main organization, we will offer tools, tips and strategies to help you achieve success in your state and local areas.

If you are interested in this program, please feel free to reach out to us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will follow up with you and begin a dialogue to make sure each party is able to help the other.

Thank you!

Our Mission

Dear Indie's goal is simple, to encourage more people of ALL ages to read more. While this sounds like a simple goal, it is, in fact, a very difficult goal to accomplish, as reading still continues to compete against TV and electronic devices. But, that is also the challenge we love.

Showing people, the joy of reading can be accomplished in a number of ways. First, is education, followed by testimonies and then by meeting actual authors and helping readers learn how authors think and why they write. Giving readers a personal one on one connection to an author provides an incentive to read a book. Once a reader is able to find a good book, they are hooked on the possibilities that exist. Their creative mind is awakened and how they deal with life then changes.

Our Growth

The DEAR Texas concept started with an annual event created in 2014 and then implemented in 2015 when Texas authors were distributed around the state in bookstores, libraries, and schools over a two-day period in April to spotlight their works to readers. The overwhelming response from this event, demonstrated that it needed to be its own separate organization, thus Texas Authors, Inc., moved it out from under its organization and set it up as a separate 501.c.3 in Texas.

During the first year of operating, DEAR was able to arrange for Texas authors to get into Blackshire Elementary school, a title 1 school, to do reading programs to children. A total of 6 authors were able to read and talk with over 200 students during the year. Over the past two years, over 115 authors have been able to reach out to the Texas community during its annual event. This outreach has been in over 36 cities across Texas and with each passing year, our goal is to increase the number of authors and cities participating.

Our Future

DEAR Indie has teamed up with Book Festival Network to create new experiences at their book festivals that will last well beyond the one-day events that they create.

Through this partnership, the value of the book festivals will increase dramatically and impact many more lives than just those who attended the event. It is our goal to make DEAR Texas the Gold Standard in book festivals for the future.

With each passing year, our outreach continues beyond the borders of Texas in many ways, and our creative endeavors add new and exciting programs that increase our outreach and help us reach our goal of getting people of ALL ages to read more. By accomplishing this goal, we not only help increase the educational value of Texas citizens but also increase the Texas Economy in multiple and long-lasting ways.

DEAR Indie Info

Dear Indie's goal is simple, to encourage more people of ALL ages to read more. While this sounds like a simple goal, it is, in fact, a very difficult goal to accomplish, as reading still continues to compete against TV and electronic devices. But, that is also the challenge we love.